Lauriver Chronicles

Chapter 46

To say Artemis Crock was shocked when the SCPD showed up at her doorstep was an understatement. Since her parents were out of town on some kind of work thing, she was looking forward to a chill night in, junk food and a movie marathon.

But those plans went out the window when she opened the front door to find two members of the SCPD standing there.

"Is everything alright officers?" Artemis asked, wondering what was going on here.

"Are you Artemis Crock?" one of the officers asked.

"Yes, what's going on?" Artemis asked, her first thought going to the fact that someone was in the hospital.

"I'm afraid we're going to need you to come with us." one of the cops said.

"Why, I didn't do anything." Artemis said honestly, since even though she was a teenaged girl, she did her best to keep her record clean, since she had dreams for her future, including becoming an Olympic athlete someday and she didn't want some prank in high school to ruin all that.

"You're not in trouble, but we do need you to come with us. It's about your mother." one of the officers said.

"What about my mother?" Artemis asked, since her father owned a sporting goods store and her mom worked as a personal trainer part time. Though she still didn't know why that required them to make so many business trips. Or why her dad seemed so angry all the time or why her older sister Jade had left home years ago. Honestly, the more she thought about it, the more questions she had about her family.

"It'll be easier for you if you just see for yourself." the other cop said as Artemis just nodded, since she wanted to know what was going on and hopefully things would make sense when they got to the police station.

But that thought went out the window when Artemis was led to the interrogation room of the precinct and was shocked to see her mother, sitting in a chair in handcuffs and wearing one of the most ridiculous outfits Artemis had ever seen.

"You sure this is a good idea?" One of the officers asked their superior.

"Crock said that she wanted to see her daughter one more time before she goes away, that she wanted to explain things to her in person instead of hearing about on the news and considering the fact that she turned herself in willingly, I'd say that giving her one last conversation with her daughter is more than reasonable enough." Police Captain Frank Pike said as Artemis was shown inside the room.

"Artemis." Paula said as she tried to stand up.

"Mom, please tell me the reason you're dressed like this is because of some freakish cosplay thing you and dad like to do when you're out of town and you're locked up because you got caught doing something that you shouldn't tell your daughter you do." Artemis actually begged.

"I wish I could, Artemis. That would be easier to explain than the truth." Paula said.

"Then what is the truth?" Artemis asked, honestly dreading the answer as her mother told her the harsh truth about their family. About how she and her father were criminals, in fact, judging by the costume her mom was wearing, she could be described as a supervillain, especially when she was told that the person who'd arrested her was the city's resident superhero and Justice League member, the Green Arrow. And then there was the fact that the reason her big sister Jade, who'd been her rock and best friend growing up, had left to become an assassin.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." Artemis said as she started hyperventilating and it quickly went downhill from there into a panic attack. Artemis hadn't had one of those in years.

"Calm down Artemis." Paula said as she tried to comfort her daughter, who recoiled at her touch.

"Don't you tell me to calm down. Not when you've been lying to me for years about being a supervillain. And you let Jade go down the same path as you. And what, were you planning on turning me into something like you too?" Artemis asked.